Spring plank mounting



March 29, 1949. R. B. COTTRELL SPRING PLANK MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5, 1944 u INVENTOR. fo eg gg fl March 29, 1949. R. B COTTRELL SPRING PLANK MOUNTING Filed June 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @ofige WW Patented Mar. 29, 1949 SPRING PLANK MOUNTING Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 3, 1944, Serial No. 538,662

16 Claims.

My invention relates to railway car trucks.

The general object of my invention is to provide novel tying arrangements for maintaining the truck side frames properly spaced and in squared relationship.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for interconnecting the side frames with a spring plank.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of spring plank engaging the side frames and maintaining the same in proper alignment.

With these and other objects in view, my invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of my invention Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a railway car truck embodying one form of my invention, only one end thereof being illustrated inasmuch as the truck is symmetrical about its transverse center line.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view in the transverse horizontal plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the transverse vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the spring plank shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the spring shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 3 showing another form of my invention.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the spring plank shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 3 illustrating still another form of my invention.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the spring plank shown in Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the various modifications of my invention are illustrated in connection with the side frame of a railway car truck comprising a compression member 2, a tension member 4, and a column 6 connecting the compression and tension members and defining with said members a bolster opening 8. Beneath the bolster opening, the tension member 4 is of box section comprising top and bottom chords l2 and I4 (Figure 3) and inboard and outboard webs I6 and [8, said top chord being widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard fianges 26 and 22 defining a spring seat 24.

A plurality of springs diagrammatically indicated at 26 are seated on the seat 24 and are held in position thereon by the cooperative relationship of the upstanding lugs 21 of the seat and lugs 28 of the inboard and outboard flanges 20 and 22 surrounding the respective springs to position the same for cooperation with the downwardly projecting lugs 30 of the bolster 32 in order to support the bolster.

In accordance with the present invention, and referring first to the modification shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the side frames of the truck are maintained in proper alignment by a spring plank 34 extending therebetween and interconnecting the frames. To this end, each side frame comprises spaced vertical lugs 36 extending outwardly from the inboard web 16 underneath opposite ends of the top chord I2 on the inboard side of the frame, each lug being cored out to provide aligned cylindrical openings for receiving a pivot pin 42 passing therethrough and serving to secure the end of the spring plank to the side frame.

The spring plank 34 is shown in detail in Figure 4 and said plank is formed with a bifurcated end portion comprising spaced legs 44, 44 reversely bent beneath the plank to provide sleeves 46, 46, said sleeves being disposed between the lugs 36 and having aligned openings for receiving the pin 42. The plank is provided at opposite ends thereof with upstanding flanges 48, 48, said flanges being relieved at 50 to accommodate the entrance of the plank into the pocket 5| defined by the top chord I2, the web l6 and lugs 36, and also to prevent contact of the flanges with the top chord l2 upon pivotal movement of the side frame relative to the spring plank.

A torsion spring 52 is provided for maintaining sleeves 46, 46 of the spring plank and lugs 36 of the side frame in tight engagement with the pin 42, thus preventing excessive vibratory wear of the pin and resultant rattling of the spring plank under service conditions, as will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art.

The spring 52 is shown in detail in Figure 5 and said spring is formed U-shaped in top plan having helically-wound spring portions 54, 54 adjacent the ends 56 of the same presenting aligned openings for receiving the pin 42. The spring is positioned on the pin 52 between the sleeves 46, 46 with its loop 58 bearing against the spring plank and with its ends 56 bearing against the top chord I2.

In Figures 6 and '7, I show another embodiment of my invention. In this construction, the inboard flange 60 of the side frame is provided with aligned horizontal slots 62 for receiving a spring plank 66, said slots being formed at opposite ends of the flange merging with the top chord 64.

The spring plank 66 is shown in detail in Fig: ure '7 and said plank is formed with a bifurcated end portion 68 comprising spaced legs having rounded extremities, each of said legs being received within respective slots '62 of the inboard flange. The plank is provided at opposite sides thereof with the upstanding flanges 12, 12, re-

lieved as at 14 to permit the entrance of the less top chord is provided with an upstanding lug 82 received within a complementary opening 84 in one of the legs 10, 10

The legs 10, 10 of the spring plank are held in tight engagement with the top chord by seating a bolster supporting spring, diagrammatically indicated at 86, on each leg, the springs being arrange'dto bear thereon to maintain the 'same in interlocking en agement with the associated' lug 82.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9, I have shownan alternate form of connecting a spring plank to the inboard side of the frame. 'Ijhe construction there shown is similar to that shown in Figures 6 and '7', withthe exception that the bifurcated end portion of the spring plank 88 comprises spaced legs- 90, 90 having square extremities "received within the aligned slots 92 in the inboard flange fl3 and engaging complementary recesses provided in the offset portions, 94 of the top chord the "recesses being of sufiicient depth to. seat the'legs therein with' "the upper surface of the legs substantial-lymplanar with the bolster spring seat 96'.

'Ihe legs 90 of the springplank are, provided with depending [flanges 38 received within com- Elementary slots [0:0, 'fqrmed in each of theofif- I set portions of the top chord adjacent the inner wall o he. n oa d w b 2-.

Th le s, 9B, or the sp ing plank are m inta ned in engagem nt, with the, top chord, by seating a bolster supporting. spring, diagrammatically indicated at IDA, onv each leg, the weight of the bolster (not shown) and the lpad carried thereby causing the Spring to. bear. against the leg at to hold the flange, a8 theteorfin, interlocking en agement with. he; sl t, "In n thetop ho d- It may be noted that he. na el; tying arrangements shown in Figures 6' and 8. permit the spring planks to be securely and tightly held engagement with, the side names, by the ine o of the pri plank, mm he. i bqard flange of, the tension memberffor engagement w h he o s er-supp r in b ings' i he op h d o t t n o ember witho t, mpair- 17 3 3 1 o e. tructural. streneith ot he, nb ar side of the frame. This desirable result i's'secured by the bifurcation of the spring plank m in the claims; 7

' sn port 4 extremity which permits the portion of the inboard flange intermediate the legs of the plank to form a strengthening rib for resisting stresses imparted thereto by the bolster springs and shocks encountered during the assembly and use of the car truck.

It'is't'o be understood that I do not wish to be limited "by the exact-embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other tor-ms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing spirit "of the invention or the scope of I claim:

-1. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames having compression and tension members on each frame'me'rging with spaced columns to form a bolster opening, each of said tension members being of box section beneath said openings with the topch'ord of said lbox section widened and each connecting meansand bearing against :said

spring plank and said "top 'chords for maintaining said plank in a given relation to said connecting "means, said "resilient means comprising a torsion spring sleeved over each connecting means.

2. "Infalrailway "car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member and a tension member andspac'ed columns defining a bolster opening-said tension'member being of box sec.-

tion beneath said opening'and including inboard andputboard webs merging with the top' chord at said b ox 'secti'on the topch'ord being widened andforn ed with upstanding inboard and. outboard flanges defining a spring seat, springs on said seat, "a bolster supported on said springs in said bolster opening, a pair of spaced vertical apertured' lugs on oppositeends of said inboard web beneath *said' top chord, a springplank extending" into said tension member between said 1 5s. said plank having a bifurcated extremity with the legsfth ereof forminghorizontally aligned *s'leeves positioned '-'adijacent res-pectivelugs, a

pivot pin passing through said openings in aid lugs and saidsleeves, and "a torsion spring car'- .ried on said pin "and bearing against saidtop "chord 'and' aid-plank.

"3.1n 'a railway car truck, a side- "frame comprising a compression member "and a tension mem ber andspaced columns-defining a bolster opening, said tension member-being'of box secea'tn said "opening with the 'top chord standing "inboard and outboa'rd flanges defining asp rin "seat, springs on said seat,-and a-bolster I "by 'saiid"springs' insaidbolster-opening, "a pair or spaced: lugsextending outwardl y of said box-section beneaith-said top chord onthe inboard side of said; tension member, a spring plank feXtendingdnto the inboard side of said plank having a bifurcated extremity with the legs thereof positioned'adjacent'said lugs, means extending through said lugs and legs and pivotally connecting said legs to said lugs, and resilient means engaging said connecting means and bearing against said top chord and said spring plank.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, said tension member having a box section with inboard and outboard webs merging with a top chord, said top chord lbeing widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges defining a spring seat, springs on said seat, a

bolster supported by said springs in said bolster opening, a pair of spaced apertured vertical lugs extending outwardly from said inboard web and downwardly from said top chord and defining therewith a pocket, a spring plank extending into said pocket, said plank having a bifurcated extremity with the legs forming aligned sleeves, a pivot pin passing through the apertures in said lugs and said sleeves, and a torsion spring carried by said pin between said sleeves and bearing against said top chord and said plank.

5. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames having compression and tension members on each frame merging with spaced columns to form a bolster opening, each of said tension members being of box section beneath said openings with the top chord of said box section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges defining a spring seat, springs on said seat, a bolster extending between said frames with the ends thereof supported on said springs insaid bolster openings, and a spring plank extending between said tension members, said spring plank having bifurcated extremities extending into said tension members with the legs thereof horizontally positioned adjacent opposite ends of said top chords on the inboard sides of said tension members, and means extending through the legs on opposite ends of said plank for connecting the same to the associated top chords, each of said means having a spring associated therewith disposed between the associated legs and bearing against the adjacent portions of said plank and said top chord.

6. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member and a tension member and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, said tension member being of box section beneath said opening with the top chord of said box section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges defining a spring seat, springs on said seat, and a bolster supported by said springs in said bolster opening, a pair of spaced apertured lugs on the inboard side of said tension member beneath said top chord, a spring plank extending into said tension member between said lugs, said plank having a bifurcated extremity with the legs thereof forming aligned sleeves, a pivot pin passing through openings in said lugs and said sleeves, and a torsion spring carried on said pin and bearing against said top chord and said spring plank.

7. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each having compression and tension members merging with spaced columns to form a bolster opening, said tension member being of box section beneath said opening with the top chord of said box section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges defining a spring seat, springs on said seats, a bolster extending between said frames with the ends adjacent top chord and the bottom of the adjacent end of said plank.

8. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames comprising compression and tension members partially defining a bolster opening, each of said tension members having a box section with inboard and outboard webs, a pair of spaced Vertical apertured lugs on each inboard web, a spring plank extending between said tension members, said spring plank having bifurcated extremities with the legs thereof forming aligned sleeves between the lugs on each tension membenapivot pin passing through openings in associated lugs and legs connecting said plank to said tension members, and a torsion spring on each pin bearing against said plank and the associated tension member.

9. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames comprising compression and tension members partially defining a bolster opening, each of said tension members having a box section with inboard and outboard Webs, a pair of spaced vertical apertured lugs on each inboard web, a spring plank extending between said tension members, said spring plank having bifurcated extremities with the legs thereof forming aligned sleeves between the lugs on each inboard web, a pivot pin passing through openings in associated lugs and legs connecting the associated plank to said tension member, and spring means carried by said pin reacting thereagainst in one direction vertically and reacting in the opposite direction vertically against said plank and said tension member.

10. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames comprising compression and tension members partially defining a bolster opening, each of said tension members having a box section with the top chord widened to form a spring seat, a pair of spaced lugs on the inboard side of each tension member beneath said top chord, a spring plank extending between said tension members, said plank having bifurcated extremities with the legs thereof positioned adjacent the lugs of respective tension members, readily detachable means connecting the lugs of each tension member to the associated legs of said plank, and a spring associated with each detachable means and positioned thereby, each spring being torsionally flexed between and reacting against one of said tension members and said plank.

11. In a railway car truck, a side frame member, a tie bar member, one of said members having spaced elements receiving the other member therebetween, pivot means extending through aligned openings in said elements and said lastmentioned member and connecting the same, and resilient means carried by said pivot means and bearing against said pivot means and adjacent portions of said frame and said tie bar member at spaced points lying in a plane extending trans- Versely of said frame.

12. In a railway car truck, a side frame member, a tie bar member, one of said members having spaced elements receiving the other member therebetween, pivot means extending through aligned openings in said elements and said last.

mentioned member and connecting the same, :a

spring connected to said pivot means and comhelically wound spring portions adjacent its ends a sleeved over said pivot means, and ends on said spring portions bearing against the other of said members.

13. In a railway car truck, a side frame memher, a tie bar member adjacent said member, pivot means connecting said members, and resilient means associated with said .pivotmeans and positioned thereby and in engagement with and torsionally reacting against portions of said members spaced from said pivot means.

14. In a railway car truck, a side frame member, a tie bar member, means connecting said members, and a torsion spring carried by said connecting means and positioned thereby and having engagement with said members.

15. In a railway car truck, a side rframe comprising a compression member and a tension member and spaced columns defin ng a bolster opening, said tension member being of box section beneath said opening with the top chord of said box section widened and formed with :upstanding inboard and outboard flanges defining a spring seat, springs on said seat, and a bolster supported by said springs said bolster opening,

alpair of spaced lugs extending outwardly of said box section beneath said top chord on the inboard {side of said tension member, a spring' plank extending into the inboard side of said tension 'member beneath said top chord, said plank having a bifurcated extremity with the legs thereof positioned adjacent said lugs, means ,for :pivotally connecting said legs to said lugs, said connecting means comprising a .pin extending through ass alig o nin s in sai u s a d sa d le s, and a spring simultaneously reactin a ainst said-top chord, said spring plank andsaid "pin.

.16. "In a railway car "truck, a side frame compris tension and c mpres o membe ndspaced columns defining a 'bo'ls'ter opening, said tension member having a .box sectionWith inboard and outboard webs merging-with a top chord, said to h d n w dened an o med t 1 1, tanding n o n ut ar fl ngesefinin aspring seat, springs on said seat, a bolster supp ed by said S n s in sai b er o n ng. :a .pa'iro't spaced vertical lugs extending outwardly from said inboard web and downwardly 'fromsai'd top chord and defining therewith a pocket, a spring plank extending into said pocket, said plank having abifurcated extremity with theiegs thereof adjacent respective lugs, apinextend'iirg through the'legs of said plank and said lugs connecting'thesame, and a resilient m'ember carried by the pin and reacting against said plank and asaid top chord forexer'ting vforces on the same in a substantially vertical d'irection.

ROBERT B. COEI'I'RELL.

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